Gender-based violence

Sexual and gender-based violence, which occurs in every region of the world and on every continent, is a violation of basic rights that also prevents women from exercising their other economic and political rights. Gender-based violence is neither inevitable nor acceptable.

Egyptian women participate in an innovation camp to share ideas on how to report violence against women. The camp was supported by UNDP, The National Council for Women, and Vodafone Egypt.

UNDP partners with the Government of South Sudan, the Global Fund and the International Organization for Migration to address gender-based violence as part of mental health and psychosocial support programmes, for women displaced by the three-year conflict.

UNDP, working in partnership with UN Women, UNFPA and others, provides an integrated response to violence against women and girls including prevention, protection, prosecution, policy change and setting up new partnerships.

UNDP supports national partners to develop and implement the required legal and policy frameworks to combat sexual and gender-based violence. This includes improving access to justice for survivors of gender-based violence, ending impunity for perpetrators and providing survivors with multi-sectoral support and services. Partners in this work include state actors, public institutions, women’s groups, civil society organizations and movements, and traditional, community and religious leaders.

As changing attitudes and ending harmful practices is integral to ending gender-based violence, UNDP also supports awareness-raising and behavior change campaigns, including through community-based conversations, meaningful engagement with men and boys, and working with the private sector and public institutions.